Alexander the Great, the renowned King of Macedon, pushed the boundaries of exploration and ruled over one of the largest empires the world has ever seen.  From a young age, he was told of his divine right to conquer Persia and the world as the son of the sky and thunder God Zeus.

Continued military success and confirmation by the Oracle at Siwah led him to believe these myths. Alexander’s victories and the spoils of war made his kingdom’s economy indestructible and his reign was cemented in gold and silver.

Alexander was so popular that his image continued to appear on coins even after his death. On this solid silver coin, minted around 290 BC, he’s depicted as nothing less than a God with distinctive horns representing the king’s nature as a divine being.

The other side of the coin may appear familiar. A very similar depiction graces our money to this day: The majestic, seated Athena is said to be one of the inspirations for Britannia.

Over two thousand years later, Alexander the Great remains a symbol of victory and success.